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Marginalized Sexual- And Gender-Identified Clients in University Counseling Centers: Best Psychotherapy Practices

Cauley, Sara Michelle
http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8148-9033
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1734454412550504

Abstract Details

2025, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology.
Young adults in college experience significant rates of mental health difficulties. The mental wellness of young adults has shown to have a substantial link to future success, health, and well-being. Individuals with marginalized sexual and gender identities (SGM) often hold additional mental health difficulties due to having identities that typically defy society's assumptions and expectations, and these assumptions/expectations are presented to youth from a young age. The distress experienced by SGM individuals can often be relational in nature due to living in and relating to a heteronormative, cisgender society that stigmatizes and oppresses SGM individuals. University Counseling Centers (UCC) typically have limited treatment approaches with stricter time-limitations as compared to other clinical settings. This provides rationale to conduct research on approaches to psychotherapy in UCCs for SGM individuals. Cultural and social contexts are crucial in understanding SGM identities, and therefore, relational cultural therapy (RCT), and its integration of interventions for multiple theories is suggested due to combining relational and cultural factors. However, this dissertation also provides a critical discussion of the use of psychotherapy approaches, regardless of theoretical orientation, in working with SGM individuals who present with distress in UCCs. The intertwining areas of social justice, diversity, intersectionality, and ethics are addressed. This is a policy position paper with reviewing, analyzing, and reporting findings from the existing research on SGM clients engaged in UCCs to provide recommendations to better inform services and American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu
Theodore Ellenhorn, PhD (Committee Chair)
Barbara Belcher-Timme, PhD (Committee Member)
Gina DiPasquale, PsyD (Committee Member)
54 p.
Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Gender; Gender Studies; Glbt Studies; Mental Health; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Therapy
SGM; Marginalized sexual and gender identities; LGBTQ+; queer identities; social justice; relational-cultural therapy; RCT; university counseling centers; UCCS; queer affirming therapy; LGBTQ-affirmative therapy; queer young adults; policy position paper

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cauley, S. M. (2025). Marginalized Sexual- And Gender-Identified Clients in University Counseling Centers: Best Psychotherapy Practices [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1734454412550504

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cauley, Sara. Marginalized Sexual- And Gender-Identified Clients in University Counseling Centers: Best Psychotherapy Practices . 2025. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1734454412550504.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cauley, Sara. "Marginalized Sexual- And Gender-Identified Clients in University Counseling Centers: Best Psychotherapy Practices ." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2025. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1734454412550504

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1734454412550504
36
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This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12